I was recently angered by a phone conversation I was privy to regarding a certain television star popular with the LGBT community. I won’t go into details, but what upset me — and still upsets me now — was learning about the reaction this bisexual star has to requests to attend Pride festivals.
The star’s agent said his client “doesn’t do Prides.”
Excuse me? A bisexual star who owes their career to the gay community doesn’t do Prides? My response upon hearing this was anything but non-judgmental. “That damned highfalutin’ Hollywood queer,” I exclaimed.
And that’s exactly how I feel. All too often I see successful LGBT folks turning their backs on the community who put them where they are. At least I can console myself with the fact that it’s just celebrity B.S.
When politicians pull this crap, I really get upset. Unlike television and movie stars, elected officials are just that: elected. They are hand-picked by the American public to work for our interests. When they work against us, in favor of their own interests, it’s maddening.
To be honest, I’m not sure I should be surprised when political operatives turn on the citizenry, we all see how quickly they turn on their own supporters and friends.
I’m sure former White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan, who recently came forward criticizing and exposing the Bush Administration’s failures, is feeling pretty lonely about now. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he felt as though he’d been spurned by an angry lover.
Instead of being welcomed as the truest of true Americans — one who’ll stand up for our ideals and principles despite the cost — McClellan’s been cut off. When he thinks about D.C. now, I wouldn’t be surprised if all he sees is a vision of thousands of cold shoulders and turned backs.
But, I digress…back to my highfalutin’ queers. The pretentiousness of our bisexual star, I’m afraid, exists not only in Hollywood — or New York, San Francisco, Atlanta or any number of other gay meccas. Sadly, the stench of this same shallow and ungrateful attitude can be found here at home in the Carolinas, too.
If the LGBT community ever hopes to become united with one powerful voice so that we might actually be able to achieve some real and meaningful change, our oh-so-fabulous, highfalutin’ queens are going to have to get off their high horses and step back down into the trenches.
Roll up your sleeves and pant legs, folks. There’s work to be done.